Have you ever wondered how the world will end? Will it end with a BANG or a whimper? Will we go up in flames in a world war or will a deadly virus slowly take us out one by one? Or perhaps you won’t be around when the world ends. Perhaps you will pass before it happens. Or Jesus may return before the world ends and takes us to be with Him. Don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows.
The reason I’m thinking about the end times is because this past week several people in my circle have passed away. Their time on this earth was up and God called them home. While it is very sad to say “Good-bye” there is comfort in knowing their faith in Jesus was strong and their destination was sure. Their lives produced the fruit talked about in the Bible. Their lives were not lived in vain. Here is what we know about this world and passing on to the next.
This World is Not Our Home
Ocean Trash1 Peter 2:11 in the Message Bible says, “Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it.” God created a beautiful earth, but it is temporary and not our eternal dwelling place. We read in 1 John 2:17 about this world and its desires passing away. The verse is primarily talking about worldly desires such as lust, greed, and pride, but the overall point is that these fleshly desires will one day end along with the world we live in today.
We are Tourists Here
When was your last vacation? Where did you go? How long did you stay? Probably a week, maybe two. You didn’t stay long (even though maybe you wanted to) because that wasn’t your home. You were a tourist on vacation just visiting the area.
This is the same concept the Bible mentions about our time on this earth. 1 Peter 1:17 says to, “live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” Our Biblical ancestors admitted they were foreigners and strangers on earth (Hebrews 11:13) in living by faith.
Our Eternal Home Awaits
CemetarySo if this world is not our home, and we are just passing through like a wide-eyed “fudgies” in Traverse City, where are we going to “hang our hats” eternally? I’m glad you asked. There is debate whether we will live, in heaven, or on a new earth, or some combination of the two concepts. What we do know for sure is that wherever it is, God will be there. Spoiler alert! The last chapter of the book says, “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” (Revelation 21:3)Jesus went to prepare a place for us according to John 14:1-4. It’s his Father’s house. He says there are many rooms there. I’m not thinking small hotel rooms, but billionaire lake-side suites!
In conclusion, we can take heart when a loved one passes away in the Lord. They have moved on to a better place. An eternal home prepared for them for 1000’s of years where God lives with them. You can read more about this place here: 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Revelation 20:11-15